Three talking points as Covid-stricken Dundee extend Motherwell’s winless Premiership run

Phot of the match taken by Euan Wood

Mark McGhee guided Covid-stricken Dundee to a 1-1 stalemate with former club Motherwell, as the recently appointed successor to James McPake continues to impose his experience on the side. 

Paul McMullan’s precise finish fired Dundee into the ascendency after only six minutes before Joe Efford netted his first Motherwell goal to bring the Steelman level.

McGhee, who was ironically sacked from his position at Fir Park after suffering a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Dundee in 2017, has been tasked with the formidable role of maintaining the Tayside clubs Premiership status this season.

The experienced Scotsman made his delight known following full time:

“I think we have got to be more than pleased; I was delighted for them. I’d hoped Wednesday night would’ve given us a foothold and start to build something. Then you lose five players from the team and you’re starting again, but I think today’s continued from that. So, I’m quite happy.

“The two performances now and the reaction in the dressing room and the training ground says to us that we are starting to build a relationship and we will start to take pride in our performances, but I think they can certainly take pride in themselves.

Meanwhile, Motherwell manager Graham Alexander, continues to come under intense scrutiny as his side plummet down the Premiership table:

“We give a terrible goal away which just opened it up for the opposition to have a really positive start, feel good about themselves and we gave them that opportunity. 

“To be fair to the players, we responded well and got a good equaliser. We should’ve then really stamped our authority on the game, but I don’t think we did that.

“We've had a cracking first two-thirds of the season where we've raised expectations, hopes and shown what a good team we are. We've found the last couple months difficult. We have to come out of it right now if we want to make this season count.”

It was a tense opening few minutes with the suspended Dundee boss looking to haunt his former side, who have yet to find their first victory of 2022 after succumbing to a run of nine league games without a win.

Only minutes into the contest, Paul McMullan skilfully pickpocketed Stephen O’Donnell deep into the Scotland International’s penalty area before curling a delightful effort into the top right corner to give the visitors the early advantage.

As the deafening frustrations from the home crowd continued to swirl around Fir Park, the hosts pushed forward in search of an equaliser. 

Former Dundee midfielder, Mark O’Hara brilliantly worked his way past Cammy Kerr before accurately picking out Kevin van Veen with an enticing delivery across the face of goal. 

The Dutchman effortlessly held off challenges from Ryan Sweeney before slipping through Efford who coolly placed his strike into the bottom left corner, leaving replacement goalkeeper Sharp with no chance.

As the half time whistle loomed, Motherwell were convinced they should’ve been awarded a penalty after Kayine Woolery was impeded at the corner of the Dundee box. An irate Graham Alexander appealed profusely to referee Andrew Dallas, but the official quickly dismissed the hosts adamant pleas.

Despite commanding the vast majority of possession, the hosts struggled to show any creativity that merited taking advantage in the second half.

O’Hara’s drilled attempt from distance flashed wide of the far post before Van Veen’s curling strike had Sharp scrambling in the Dundee goal.

With no breakthrough in sight, Alexander turned to his bench, with Callum Slattery and Ross Tierney replacing Goss and O’Hara. A decision that infuriated pockets of the Motherwell support who felt O’Hara should’ve maintained his place.

In the dying stages of the game, Motherwell were certainly the likelier of the two sides to snatch all three points. 

Van Veen’s incisive through ball sliced through the Dundee defence, leaving substitute Tierney through on goal, but the young Irishman was soon engulfed in blue shirts and his tame effort was easily gathered by Sharp.

Motherwell’s focus now shifts to the Scottish Cup as they welcome Shaun Maloney’s struggling Hibs side to Fir Park next Sunday with a semi-final appearance and a trip to Hampden at stake.

Meanwhile, Dundee face the daunting task of eliminating Glasgow giants Rangers from the competition. 

Here are the three things we learned as Mark McGhee relishes Fir Park return as Steelmen continue winless Premiership run:

Steelmen in freefall

Graham Alexander’s side have failed to register a single victory in 2022, picking up a measly five points from a possible 30. The Lanarkshire outfit have also failed to score first in any Premiership or Scottish Cup encounter this year. Their impeccable form shown earlier in the season has slowly been diminished, as they plummet from fourth to eighth.

Despite acknowledging their recent run of form, goalkeeper Liam Kelly is confident the squad can secure a fourth place finish this season:

“Probably similar to the Ross County game where we managed to get one back and get a draw, but no real complaints with the result. I don’t think we really deserved to win if I’m being honest, Dundee were worth a point and we need to be better.

“I don’t feel as if they caused us any threat. Their goal comes from a mistake from us. We tried our best and came up short, it happens in football. We are going through a bad run just now, but as poor as the run has been results wise, there is still plenty of opportunities for us.

“We never done enough and haven’t been doing enough to win games. We’ve been giving away soft goals, giving teams something to hang onto and we are amongst the pack now that is fighting for that fourth spot that is so realistic for everybody.”

Survival in sight

Mark McGhee has still yet to find a consistent run of form at Dens Park since replacing predecessor James McPake last month. Dundee are without a win in their last four, but two successive stalemates have brought them closer to relegation rivals St. Johnstone with a game in hand.

Goalscorer, Paul McMullan is still convinced his side can escape the drop this season:

“We’ve had spells where we’ve played well and lost a few bad ones which reflects in our goal difference, but we have shown in spells that we are capable of defeating pretty much all the teams in this league. It is just about trying to find a consistency and we need to find it fast otherwise we are not going to be able to show it next year.

“Our expectations were to stay up. You’re obviously playing against tougher opposition, but if you could stay up, it would be a great achievement and it would leave a feel-good factor in the squad.”

A positive return

Former Motherwell boss, McGhee, hasn’t set foot inside Fir Park since his departure from the Steelmen over five years ago. The 64-year-old was relived from his duties in his second spell as Well’ boss after achieving two wins from 13, with the club sat perilously above the drop in 10th. A 5-1 first half mauling to Dundee sealed his tenure in Lanarkshire. 

Nevertheless, McGhee was pleased with his return:

“I’ve seen a lot of old friends and my family were here and I’m sure they enjoyed it. I have fond memories here so I’m happy to be back and happy not to have gotten beat.”